Thorns fall to Boston Breakers 2-1 after Morgan leaves with injury

SOMERVILLE, Mass. – In just the 8th minute, Portland Thorns star Alex Morgan injured her left knee and was stretchered off the field, prompting coach Cindy Parlow Cone to substitute Tiffany Weimer into the game.

Weimer scored a goal in the 52nd minute to give her team a one-goal lead, but the Boston Breakers answered with two goals, including one in the 84th minute, to beat Portland, 2-1, Wednesday night.

With the loss, the Thorns (10-6-4, 34 points) are tied in second place with Sky Blue FC, who play Saturday.

The game-winning goal came on a defensive breakdown in Portland’s end, after Cat Whitehill slipped a pass to Heather O’Reilly. O’Reilly chipped the ball past LeBlanc at the far post for the score.

After Weimer’s goal, which gave Portland a 1-0 lead, Boston answered in the 68th minute with a goal from Lianne Sanderson. Sydney Leroux’s entry pass slipped through Portland’s defense, and Sanderson had little trouble converting the equalizer.

In the 42nd minute, the Thorns nearly snapped the tie when they launched three shots on Alyssa Naeher.

Portland defender Nikki Marshall started the attack with a point-blank shot on Naeher, who made the save. Weimer corralled the rebound and fired another shot into traffic, which was blocked by Boston defender Julie King.

Weimer collected the deflection and offered another attempt, which was also blocked by Kin. Finally, the ball was shot wide of the net and out of bounds to cap the sequence.

Earlier in the half, during the 26th minute, Portland forward Christine Sinclair had the best scoring opportunity of the game. She dribbled past Naeher, who came off her line, and was left with a wide-open net. As Sinclair shot for the empty net, Boston defender Cat Whitehill made a sliding save on the goal line to keep the game scoreless.

In the 16th minute, Sinclair threaded a pass to Danielle Foxhoven, who scored, but the goal was wiped away due to offsides.

Portland resumes action Saturday on the road against Western New York.